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When I get a comic in the mail, I always put it in my own new bag and board. Not only does it get a new bag and board, it also forces me to inspect the comic right away
I use to just take them and put them in my comic book box but then one day I opened one and the back of the comic was trashed, so now yeah I always open up the comic check the inner pages and back cover, esp. if I plan on selling the book, no more oppps I didn't know
I collect comics cause of the sentimental value I have towards the characters. Not the money profit or value. I think the value is plus but not necessary.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN ALL THE TIPS YOU POINTED OUT. IT IS COMMON SENSE THAT IF I BUY A COMIC BOOK I MUST IMMEDIATELY CHECK IT THOROUGHLY PAGE PER PAGE.
We all have done the front cover inspection so I too have fallen into that mistake in the past. The good thing about mistakes is if you can learn from them and improve something because of them, then were they really bad? Or just a learning tool? Thank you for another great post, keep them coming.
THANK YOU!!!! I just started collecting and this is something I never would have bothered doing. I'm glad I came across your channel. Keep up the awesome work.
First I would like to say WELCOME to the wonderful world of comic collecting, I hope you have a lot of fun with your new hobby :). I have many videos that can help you learn what took some of us decades to master. I thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and hope that I hear from you again in future videos :).
Thanks for making this video! After many years not taking an interest in comics, I recently pulled out an old box tried to see what was good and what wasn't. At first glance, it was a buried treasure I was just SURE was worth thousands of dollars. Then I looked at Chuck Rozanki's Grading Standards from Mile High Comics... WOW. Talk about hurt feelings! The standards are TOUGH, and most people (like me) don't realize just HOW thorough the professional grading really is. The short version you'll find online usually says "a near-mint comic looks brand new, with only a few very minor defects such as spine stresses, very minor dents, 2 or 3 at most, some slight corner blunting, and minor bends less than 1/8th of an inch without color breaks". Woo-hoo! You just described A TON of my comics! I'm rich!!!!! But use Chuck Rozanski's guide, and suddenly my "mint" comics were basically trash. The description above makes you feel like oh, my comic can have a few dents, bends, and spine stress, and still be a 9.4 or something. No. The defects are graded cumulatively, so a corner bend, not 9.8 anymore. Spine stress? Not 9.6. Fingerprint on the back cover? Not even a near-mint anymore. Three defects and it's down to a Very Fine. And it gets even more brutal after that. Out of 550 plus comics, I found about TEN that I thought I MIGHT be able to send to get graded. I initially thought I had about twenty, but each time I'd go back and inspect them, I'd find tiny flaws I hadn't seen before. And while it's true that some graders tolerate "a few" minor defects, as it vaguely says, its the accumulation that matters. After a quick examination - like you mentioned here - inspecting the front and back covers of all 550 plus books, I came away with TWENTY that I thought MIGHT make 9.0 or better. But then I looked inside. Ten of those had me fooled until sure enough, I started finding crimping lines on a couple of interior pages, water marks, tears, etc. And it ALL ADDS UP. So in my enthusiasm to fatten my wallet, I ALMOST sent out a bunch of books that were basically worthless. What stopped me, luckily, was the price to get the comics graded. $25 membership just to sign up with CGC minimum (the $149 pro deal is better because you get $150 credit back, plus 10% off all services, which helps tremendously). But then an $8 service fee. Then $20 a book for all modern books valued less than $200. If you think they're worth MORE than that, oy vey! If you think a pressing/cleaning will take a book up to a 9 point whatever, its another $8 a book, but to do the pressing service AT ALL requires a 15 book minimum order, so now you're spending $28 a book (and assuming you opted for the initially more expensive 10% off and the break-even membership plan), you've spent $378, and you haven't even covered the costs of shipping to CGC, then to CSS - which is their separate dry clean service - and back to CGC for grading, then back to the customer, which is like $14 per trip, or another $56. If you send some modern, some Silver Age, they ship them back separately, so the price just keeps going up. It's a RIDICULOUS amount of money if you choose CGC, and I'll bet their vague, tough-to-decipher website and somewhat hidden fee scales have broken many a heart. If you just love those books, and want to see them graded and placed in a nice case on your wall, and if you have the money to burn, fine, but if you're on a tight budget like me, that's a ridiculous price to pay, and AT BEST with modern age comics, you might think WOW, this old comic is worth $20 bucks, maybe as high as $60 when it's graded a 9.8 - I'm RICH!!! Take out at least $28 bucks from cleaning, pressing, and grading, and now it's only worth $30, which isn't THAT MUCH higher than the price of selling it raw, and that's ONLY if the book is in any kind of demand. Don't forget you have to sell it, and eBay takes 10% plus fees, then 2.9% goes to PayPal, AND you have to ship it out again to whoever buys it. So unless you KNOW your comic is going to sell for more than it costs to grade it, it's not even worth it basically. You SHOULD just sell it raw - but sell it honestly - and that's where most people go wrong. They just don't know how tough the grading is, or how much it cost to get something CGC'd. So thank you for posting the video, there is SO MUCH MORE to learn about comics grading, and when I look on ebay, EVERYTHING is parading around as Very Fine+ or Near Mint and it hasn't actually been graded. On the bright side, maybe you can get a sucker to buy your worthless comics, but the gains won't last long, your reputation will suffer, AND you'll end up paying for shipping AGAIN when you have to give their money back. So do the math - whenever I see a CGC label selling for less than $40, I just feel bad for whoever took the six months it took to have it graded. I'm grateful for the help, because it's saving me and any unwary buyers some time and money. I think you're right in pointing out that most people simply don't know, and everyone WISHES that sharp corners and a clean front cover was the same thing as "near mint". Been loving your videos, keep up the good work, and thanks!
Thank you David for such an amazing post. And remember that even if your comics are not perfect, you probably paid cover price which means any key issues you have will still be desirable :). And yeah I talk about factoring in all costs when sending comics to any grading company and many kill me if I say anything that can be even presumed as negative towards CGC. That is a shame. Once you learn about grading, you will become more in touch with what seems worth grading and what you should keep raw. If you slab just to slab the PGX is the cheapest and may be something to look into. I have many other tip video which can help you learn more and more... Keep in mind also, that if you bought those comics back in the day because you loved them, then they are priceless to YOU even if they may not all have a monetary value. So enjoy what you have, learn all you can and I welcome you back to the amazing world of comics.... Just keep far away from all the variants ;) lol. Thanks again :) Chris
It depends on who grades them. I have seen books get 9.6 grades. If they smear or drip below the top it can effect that grade. A lot of times it is ignored though so they can get 9.8 grades.
We Love Comics Correct. It depends on the severity of the overspray. It's my understanding that it can't get above a 9.8, so no 9.9s or 10.0s with distributor spray.
dude this is the best you tube video on inspecting comic books that i've seen, and i've been watching here and there then i break from it and it has now become a quiet often thing for me. dude thanks for informing all the collectors out there on what to look for and it has taken me a span of 5 years to find a video that actually informs collectors on what to look for. thank you and i subscribes today so hopefully because of my innflurncr you channell will bloe up
Awesome video and channel. Just got obsessively back into comic collecting after about a 20 year break. I find your channel informative and very helpful. Thanks.
As always, I feel humbled in your presence. :) I know I say this a lot, but I really do appreciate the information I get out of your videos. I've picked up a lot over the years, and know some of what to look for if I'm looking for gradable books, but you always teach me something new. I'm really glad guys like you are there to help out the rest of us collectors, and give us the tips that aren't always readily available. Have a great night, Chris!
Luckily I have upgraded my camera since then so that problem should no longer be an issue :). Glad you stuck through it to watch this video. Thank you Alan for taking the time to comment, hope to hear from you more often :).
Thanks Chris. I love the videos. Like the old saying goes "You cant judge a book by its cover" . Please keep up the good work. It keeps me excited about collecting. Have a blessed week.....
Yea i got excited because i found an incredible hulk annual 5 for 19 bucks and from the front it was clean af, like 7.5, and ofc had a post it note on it that said 'would have graded higher but some slight bends on back of spine and back'. Well the hulk is my fav character and the book looked so good and decent price so i just grabbed it and though, even at this price a little bending is fine. Well i started thinking about it later, couple days ago actually and took it out to inspect it, and the back cover is absolutely destroyed.
I really don't mess with graded books buying or selling unless its something like an autograph because thats like my guarantee for authenticity. So for me I'm mostly a collector and I sell books I no longer have a use for or space for. I use mylar not to get over on anyone with a sale but because Mylar is far more protective from a longevity standpoint and its more durable. Yes they do present the book better but your point is valid, sellers will do that to get over so youre doing great for letting the community know. I just want to be clear that just because someone sells a book thats in a mylar bag doesnt mean they are out to get over on anyone. And like you said, even the experienced make this mistake. We need to inspect our books thats the bottom line. Keep up the good work
I still don't get why people slide the book in to the sleeve bottom first you end up always touching and grabbing the top of the book leaving finger prints on the top usually where the title is. Me and my collecting club we have always slid the book top end first into the sleeve so that way the top of the book is never touched never handled. I'm still baffled most people don't do such a simple thing
Once again.. Another Awesome Vid, Chris! I was just telling my buddy the other day that I see so many people that look at both sides of the wrap, the spine, and the corner's and they give the book a grade. I was like, "Don't people look inside the and check for issues inside the Book". Awesome Dude!
VERY informative video. You have shown a lot that I would've overlooked.I admit, I'm guilty of just judging the front cover AND I'VE PAID for it BY receiving a lower grade 😢! Before now, I didn't know of "folding" AND I wouldn't have thought of checking if page numbers are smeared. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
I am happy to have been able to show so many little details that can really lower the grade of a comic... Like the saying goes.... "Don't judge a book by its cover" ;)>. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts.
Great vid, I wish I had this information before. I got caught out there with a copy of ASM 316. The front and back cover were so pristine but the pages on the inside are a mid dark beige. Lesson learned though, Thanks for this vid!
Sadly, we have all had something like that happen to us so think of it as a right of passage... At least it wans't AF15 or something expensive like that to learn a lesson on :).
Nice video Chris, I seen a video last week of a guy doing an unboxing and he kept getting 8.5's when he was expecting 9.2's and he kept zooming his camera in on the cover and edges. lol I'm gonna have to send him over to your channel.
That is how many people grade books, I have seen that done on hundreds of channels. When I used to do my online auctions here on my original channel, anyone that was selling a book had to take it out and show the ENTIRE book. Sadly, Ebay doesn't care what is being sold as long as they take their cut.
We Love Comics I have a question, that bacteria that's on the Moon Knight book, is it possible that it can also start building on your other books while they're in the box?
Thank you, I'm glad it helped you. I really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment. Hopefully you'll check out other videos of mine
100% right Chris a comic is more than just a front cover. I've found out the hard way. I give the comic a good check all over before sending for grading.Really great and informative video.
At one point we all have :). But like they say "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, SHAME ON ME"... So when we learn from our mistakes we never have to make them again... :). Thank you for taking the time to share your positive thoughts on this topic :).
Another lesson for anyone planning to submit that i learned the hard way especially if you're also going to press them is take scans and pictures of the entire book prior to submitting. With pressing and submitting becoming so popular, places like CCS is becoming overwhelmed and mistakes are happening at higher rates. I have had a couple books come back damaged after submitting from pressing including an ASM 14 that came back with a detached cover on one staple that most definitely was not detached when I sent it in.
It just goes to show that when a business gets too much power, they abuse it... I am sorry to hear that happened. And what is really sad is that they will never claim responsibility and YOU are the one that gets punished....
Nice, informative channel you have here, just wondered this way yesterday and have already been hooked on several of your vids. Looking forward to discovering more. Thanks! From a UK comic lover.
That is awesome James, glad you found my channel and are enjoying my content. Feel free to comment any time and I hope my videos continue to entertain or inform you :). New video uploading as I write this.
Hello Chris, Important information on this video. I have to admit that many times I have gotten comics and not gone much beyond the front and back cover, inside covers and first page. Certainly not enough. I have certified comics and wondered why such a low grade when I thought it was great looking book. I now have a much better understanding and will from now on go through the entire comic. Thank you. Herb
I think we all need to be reminded of the basics every now and then, as we are all guilty of doing this from time to time. If I can refresh someones memory and they closely examine a book, then it saves them from being unhappy later down the line.
Hey Chris. My profession is a printing press operator. I worked for Decades in this job. A few things you had Wrong about things with the ink. 1 thing for example was the page numbers on the bottom of the page. This issue in this books case was a dirty Blanket on the Press. This was a Pressman error not a customers. The issue would be looked over by a grader because it happened during production.
Something I have noticed in A LOT of my books I’ve been buying lately is that on the bottom of the inside pages there will be small holes that go completely through the book. Not sure why honestly but I’ve seen it in multiple books from different companies and ages
It it spreads below where it is supposed to go it can cause a penalty in grade. I have seen comics with miswraps still grade at a 9.8 so they do not penalize as much for that.
Thank you good sir. I have seen dozens and dozens of channels (Including my own at one point) fall into the cover checking trap. If I can help one person inspect a book more closely and it makes them catch a defect before sending it to get graded and they end up not sending it in, I am happy. I was pleasantly surprised at all the positive comments and thanks yous for the reminders... I am always happy to help when I can. Good to hear from you again and I hope you are well :).
I stopped myself back in the mid 90's & did not come back until Oct of 2015. So I know what it is like to be out of the loop. I have many tip videos that may help you get back into the swing of things, hope you check some out. Thank you for taking the time to comment & welcome back :).
Why thank you, that was really nice of you to say. I hope you can share the link to anyone that you know me love Comics so it can help them as well :-). Hope you check out more of my videos and they are hopefully just as helpful to you
I absolutely loved this video, and as soon as I get this comment written I will be subscribing and 'ringing the bell'. I have a several step process when I grade books, starting with the cover. I look at the cover as a whole rather than as a front and back, looking at corners, stress creases, foxing, smudging, dust accumulation, staple brightness, and alignment of the fold. This will give me an initial grade, I then put the comic aside for anywhere from a few hours to several days and look at it again. Sometimes this second look will show me things I missed the first time. Then I open the book to the center and make sure the staples are tight, and make a note of the page color, I also get close to the book and take a deep smell of it. Sounds peculiar I know, but the nose can detect the odor of acidifying comics pages. Next I check to make sure all pages are complete and that any pencil or pen marks that may be in it are noted. I also look at the brightness of the interior ink. I then put the book away again. before I bag the comic (usually poly bagged if it's a key issue I may use a board fro the front as well as the back). I look at it one more time, only then and after reviewing my notes do I assign it a grade.
Sounds like you are one of the comic collectors who didn't actually need this video ;) LOL. But I am happy to hear you inspect your books before sending them out to be graded... 90% of the people I see "Grading" their books is looking at the front and back cover and then formulating a grade... And then they wonder why they did not get the grade they wanted when it comes back a 9.0 ;) lol. Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed comment< I always appreciate efforts like this. I hope you check out more of my content and feel free to comment any time.... Thank you again & welcome to my channel :).
You left out one of the most important points - do a page count! That's especially important with silver and golden age books. Doesn't matter how nice all of the present parts look if there's a page or wrap missing - there's a 0.5 grade or a qualified label coming your way.
@@bathombre9739 if you mean the Marvel value stamps, its easy to see whether or not the issue you have on hand was printed with a stamp, and/ or had it removed. If the promo page has a piece missing, there is your evidence. Sometimes the previous owners of a comic also cut out the main-in forms on some ads, so that is something that has to be checked with every issue bought.
Unfortunately, when buying books at shows, the seller sometimes frowns upon you being so thorough with flipping through the pages or even taking it out of the mylar. The more expensive the book, the more they'll not want you flipping through it. It's unfortunate, but I know they are terrified of you dropping or possibly bending a page, tearing a cover, etc.
Very true but you can always ask them to take it out and show you. If they refuse to do even that, then you may be better off passing on their business and go elsewhere.
Great information video Chris. I always check my books every page when they come in. I have had the same issues buying online. You never know if the seller has even taken it out of the bag. I bought the overstreet guide to grading comics many years ago and use those guidelines to check my books.
I could honestly bet that 98% of the people who sell ungraded books never check the entire book. That is why you see so many auctions that show just the front cover. I am never afraid to take a chance though because of Ebays buyer protection program. But it still is frustrating that sellers do no understand about giving FULL DISCLOSURE when selling an item. It is all about integrity.
I am glad that my video helped you look at your comics a little closer, it will help you in the long run :). Thank you for sharing your positive comment.
The crease on the inside looks like a factory caused crease. Those are typically overlooked. I used to have a 9.0 copy of X-Men 49 with a 3 inch factory crease on the white of the front cover. Pissed me off to no end because I didn't see it in the description and didn't know that its largely ignored over man made creases. Same thing with marvel chipping. It drives me nuts that CGC will give books high grades even with some chipping/pre-chipping. I say factor all those defects in and designate a "qualified category" for it.
Thannk you for another great and informative video. I am about to send some books to be graded and this will help me make sure I send my best books to PGX using your discount code. Keep up the great content!
Remember Beavis and Butthead? Maybe you do. BUT, remember their comic book adaptation? The month the first issue of THAT came out, Todd McFarlaine's Spider-Man #1 came out. I bought the Spider-Man, while a friend of mine bought THREE copies of the gruesome twosome's comic, thinking it would increase in value. Which collector made the mistake there?
Wow comic collecting seems like a chore if it needs to be kept this way. Checking every page for inks smudge is too extreme for me to maintain the highest grade.
Well like they say in life you get what you give, so if someone is not willing to put in the extra effort to make sure a comic is in good condition then they should not complain that when they grade it, the grade is lowered then expected... It DOES require work if you want things done right.
We Love Comics What I am trying to say is, its way too extreme to flip every page to check for manufacture error, the one where you mention the ink smudge where we have no control of. If its a fold or a crease, then thats unacceptable. Also if we purchase a book online, I don't think the seller is willing to snap every picture of the book.
Oh I understand, but the purpose of this video was because I see all the time people who do unboxings of books they got graded and then complain that they did not get a 9.8 and then admit they never opened the book. So I was just trying to teach people to be careful because if you are getting a book graded and you want the best grade, you really should check to make sure it is what you think it is... Too many people just look at the front and back cover and make a prediction of a grade.
@@stevegalusha1453 glad you watched and happy you appreciate My content. Hope you check out more :-). Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment
Hi my friend 😀.. Great video and great advice. I go through my books with a magnifyin glass. At my age my eyes are not that great.lol. question . when you buy a book at your LCS. Do you check it out there or do you wait until you get home. And if you check it out there and find Something wrong with it do you ask if they can lower the price. Just curious... So that's what Moon Knight looks like. Lol. I think he should get a little sun he looks kind of pale.😀.. Thanks for sharing this video.✌️ my friend and have a great evening.😀Hi Moon Knight Madness. HeHe HaHa..😉
I always check out any key book I buy before I buy it, In fact there was a wall book I wanted (Can't remember what it was) and I said I would only buy it if the staples were in tact. They said they "Believed" they were. Well I had them open it up and take it out and wouldn't you know it, the top staple was detached... If I would have waited until I got home they could say that maybe I did it....
Just remember we all start out as beginners and learn through experience. You will be the expert one day someone comes to for advice :). Till then learn all you can from all you can :).
Is it true that with signatures on comic books even if they have a certificate of authenticity doesn’t matter when they’re sent in to be graded? Like it’ll still get labeled as “defaced” or something along those lines?
great video, very informative, but can I suggest another video with better quality images of the water stains, fold lines etc? your camera was pretty blurry most of the time you zoomed in. great info though, keep it up!
I thank you for the honest feedback. Since this video I bought some professional lighting and the videos are much better now. Had to get used to changing all the settings to fit with this new camera.. Hopefully you will see a difference in my newer content :).
Great video. I bought a high grade x-men collection eBay and when I received it I got the bad surprise. Foxing on all of them but very hard to notice even with the photos that were provided. I did'nt pay as much as I thought they were worth. I got them 2 weeks ago from the mail. IS it too late to return them ? I would feel bad reselling them to another person. I would mention the slight foxing to them. This really sucks. If anyone has an opinion please send a comment. Thanks !
On Ebay you have 30 days to return something and 6 months from Paypal so you are good. If they didn't mention all that foxing, you are definitely entitled to your money back. Good thing you checked :).
I've been watching some unboxing videos and you are so right. If they got lower grades than what they thought it should be the first they did was look at the cover and say"how can this be a 8.?
I been collecting comics for years started in the 1970s on in off. Trust me when I tell you this video IS a very educational. Keep up the great work. And regarding the thumbs. In live, there will always be hater. You just got yourself a thumbs, a shared and a new subscriber. ✌😎✌
On grading, it gets knocked down even if it is a printing issue? When you showed the page number 23 with the bleeding, wouldn’t that be an issue with all the books that ran through at that printing?
Never be afraid to buy from Ebay, just remember to check your books. And if they are not what they claimed to be then return them. Ebays buyer protection program will hep you.
Daryl Hidrosollo. EBay is a great place to get books and you can find some great deals. However, don't always think the seller's grade is what it is. I like the auctions that have several very clear pics.
Hi Chris, thanks for another informative video. I don't know if it only happens to me but when you zoom in the image is blurry, I remember you mentioning that you had a new camera, is it the new camera? I am currently going through my comic book collection, some of them were in storage for about 10-12 years and I noticed that I was being careful with the bag and boards to try and keep them as perfect as possible but some of them I should have been more careful, I will be sending some of them for grading. Thank you for the tips, always helpful
I am no professional either so I could be wrong. But it definitely would not be as high as people thought if they based a grade solely on the front cover :).
Hmm, some of the flaws you point out are due to the printing process, and I am not sure, but I don't think the grading companies mark down for those. I mean, look at all the misaligned covers that still get a 9.8.
That may be so but things like what I showed on the back get missed all the time when people are "Grading" their books. Hopefully this helps people inspect more then the front cover and spine.
Awesome information. So would you recommend not using the digital codes? I like to read the books but don’t want to read my physical copy so I will use the digital code. I typically peel back the code enough to see and fold back. I don’t remove it and I don’t do that to my more valuable books. What are your thoughts? Thanks for your time!
thanks for the video,,i have a lot of comics but there all ungraded but not sure on where to go to get them graded also have rare ones i wouldnt want to send by mail,,,have a look at my videos of my boxes but they are in ok condition for the year
The best I can recommend is learn as much as y ou can about the 3 grading companies (CGC CBCS & PGX) before you send in anything... The more you learn the better choice you will make. Also people will have totally different experiences from the same companies so sometimes trying all 3 is the best way to go.
The more you learn, the more you will realize that all 3 can benefit you based on your needs. No one company is going to be the best for ALL your needs so learn what you can.
We Love Comics I barely started to read comics. I had no idea of the value degrading. Thank you for this amazing video. I found digital is kind of the way to go, but I am not a fan. With digital you have nothing to show proof you read it
Thanks for the tips Chris. Are you able to change your camera settings for auto focus? When you move the book for close up it’s blurry. Maybe a different angle of your lighting would correct it. Just an idea. Thanks again and keep up the good work man.
We Love Comics oh I seen your older video(s) wayy back in the day....then you left ,then recently you started putting new stuff out again welcome back!
I was thinking of buying a GL #87 . Just started my collection. They have it on the wall at my local shop. Should I ask to see it before a buy it ? It's $ 150 and I figured it be a good investment before they introduce John Stewart in the DCEU .
Absolutely ask. You always want to be sure there are no hidden surprises that make you disappointed in your purchase... Off then $125 and see what they say :). Never be afraid to bargain.
We Love Comics Ill do that . Thanks for the advice. Cus if it looks good and I get a good deal, I might be able save enough to get the GCS # 1 lol. This is important to me too in a weird way lol . John Stewart GL is one of my fav characters so I want it to work out . On another note . I saw a Superman's pal Jimmy olsen # 136 in a stack of Jimmy Olsen comics. The one where he looks like hulk. Do you think Supermans pal comics are worth collecting ? I saw it looking for # 134 .
I got some books in from a store online (I don't want to mention the name) but man I feel like the grades were off. I didn't want to bitch because I want to purchase from them again and my books were under $10 apiece. Luckily some of the cheaper book that were graded lower were better than I expected. Have you ever purchased from an online store and had to call them out?
Oh yeah, that happens all the time. like I say in this video even comic shops are guilty of this. There is no way that they could ever inspect every single comic they have. I am sure they don't hardly ever do it at all... So they can totally misgrade a book the same way a regular collector can.
I'll keep buying from those people who sell their comics out on the street, flea market, Save a comic from the land fills, that whole Grading thing gives the idea that people will make $500-dollars off of old comics, Never thought Comics were saving Bonds just grows with interest easy money
You would be in Shock Surprise, If you went to a Junk yard Land fill and found Boxes of Comics (some not damage by rain) still in plastic bags, Family members of Comic Collectors don't want to waste time trying to sell the comics, throwing out with the rest of his stuff when they pass away, Jack-pot for some,
I've never graded a comic, but I am interested in it. I really enjoyed your video too it was informative and educated me more on what to look for before getting a comic graded. How did you get into grading comics? What steps should I take to get a comic graded?
@@WeLoveComics Thanks for the reply. How did you get into grading comics? Any sources you recommend to learn more about grading? Thanks for the info brotha 👍
Just watched some comic videos, learned about it then got hooked. The more you research, the better you can find what is best for you :). Happy hunting :). I have a video in my tips playlist that gives my honest opinions about all 3 major companies, so hope you check that out. That is a start.
I have a comics collection dating from the 1970s. Thousands put in bags and boards. Assumed to be in excellent condition when purchased. A checklist on what to search for would be helpful, but reviewing your video occasionally should be very helpful when I inspect notable issue in my collection. I imagine a good inspection of a book is important because sending it out could be more expensive than a comic is worth, right?
You are totally right about that. The more you check your comics, the less chance of sending a book to get graded and getting disappointed about the grade received.....
Each site has different prices depending on the comic and how fast you want it back. Of the 3 companies, PGX is the cheapest, fastest & easiest. But if you go to all 3 companies they give a full detail of prices....
What do you mean by add a cover? If you mean if you have a coverless comic and you want to send a facsimile cover will they put it in the slab? Yes they would if you requested them too. But they will put a notation that it is not the original cover. And yes they do in house pressings and dry cleanings.... If you send any of your books to get graded by PGX, I have a discount code in the description that will save you 10% off the total price.
It could be, time till tell. I would recommend going on ebay and seeing what prices people were paying for that book in the grades you are looking for and try to get the lowest of the range as possible.
To check out my comic book mystery boxes for sale, click this link.. squareup.com/store/peaceful-feelings-slash-orgone To Join the CASH BACK program & get 2% off any comic purchases on Ebay & get an additional $10 cash back bonus the 1st time you spend $25 or more (With in the 1st 90 days of signing up), click here... www.rakuten.com/r/IREALL18?eeid=28187
When I get a comic in the mail, I always put it in my own new bag and board. Not only does it get a new bag and board, it also forces me to inspect the comic right away
I do the exact same thing. Very smart indeed.
I use to just take them and put them in my comic book box but then one day I opened one and the back of the comic was trashed, so now yeah I always open up the comic check the inner pages and back cover, esp. if I plan on selling the book, no more oppps I didn't know
I collect comics cause of the sentimental value I have towards the characters. Not the money profit or value. I think the value is plus but not necessary.
Nothing wrong with that at all.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN ALL THE TIPS YOU POINTED OUT. IT IS COMMON SENSE THAT IF I BUY A COMIC BOOK I MUST IMMEDIATELY CHECK IT THOROUGHLY PAGE PER PAGE.
We all have done the front cover inspection so I too have fallen into that mistake in the past. The good thing about mistakes is if you can learn from them and improve something because of them, then were they really bad? Or just a learning tool? Thank you for another great post, keep them coming.
THANK YOU!!!! I just started collecting and this is something I never would have bothered doing. I'm glad I came across your channel. Keep up the awesome work.
First I would like to say WELCOME to the wonderful world of comic collecting, I hope you have a lot of fun with your new hobby :). I have many videos that can help you learn what took some of us decades to master. I thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and hope that I hear from you again in future videos :).
Thanks for making this video! After many years not taking an interest in comics, I recently pulled out an old box tried to see what was good and what wasn't. At first glance, it was a buried treasure I was just SURE was worth thousands of dollars. Then I looked at Chuck Rozanki's Grading Standards from Mile High Comics... WOW. Talk about hurt feelings!
The standards are TOUGH, and most people (like me) don't realize just HOW thorough the professional grading really is. The short version you'll find online usually says "a near-mint comic looks brand new, with only a few very minor defects such as spine stresses, very minor dents, 2 or 3 at most, some slight corner blunting, and minor bends less than 1/8th of an inch without color breaks". Woo-hoo! You just described A TON of my comics! I'm rich!!!!!
But use Chuck Rozanski's guide, and suddenly my "mint" comics were basically trash. The description above makes you feel like oh, my comic can have a few dents, bends, and spine stress, and still be a 9.4 or something. No. The defects are graded cumulatively, so a corner bend, not 9.8 anymore. Spine stress? Not 9.6. Fingerprint on the back cover? Not even a near-mint anymore. Three defects and it's down to a Very Fine. And it gets even more brutal after that.
Out of 550 plus comics, I found about TEN that I thought I MIGHT be able to send to get graded. I initially thought I had about twenty, but each time I'd go back and inspect them, I'd find tiny flaws I hadn't seen before. And while it's true that some graders tolerate "a few" minor defects, as it vaguely says, its the accumulation that matters.
After a quick examination - like you mentioned here - inspecting the front and back covers of all 550 plus books, I came away with TWENTY that I thought MIGHT make 9.0 or better. But then I looked inside. Ten of those had me fooled until sure enough, I started finding crimping lines on a couple of interior pages, water marks, tears, etc. And it ALL ADDS UP.
So in my enthusiasm to fatten my wallet, I ALMOST sent out a bunch of books that were basically worthless. What stopped me, luckily, was the price to get the comics graded. $25 membership just to sign up with CGC minimum (the $149 pro deal is better because you get $150 credit back, plus 10% off all services, which helps tremendously). But then an $8 service fee. Then $20 a book for all modern books valued less than $200. If you think they're worth MORE than that, oy vey! If you think a pressing/cleaning will take a book up to a 9 point whatever, its another $8 a book, but to do the pressing service AT ALL requires a 15 book minimum order, so now you're spending $28 a book (and assuming you opted for the initially more expensive 10% off and the break-even membership plan), you've spent $378, and you haven't even covered the costs of shipping to CGC, then to CSS - which is their separate dry clean service - and back to CGC for grading, then back to the customer, which is like $14 per trip, or another $56. If you send some modern, some Silver Age, they ship them back separately, so the price just keeps going up. It's a RIDICULOUS amount of money if you choose CGC, and I'll bet their vague, tough-to-decipher website and somewhat hidden fee scales have broken many a heart.
If you just love those books, and want to see them graded and placed in a nice case on your wall, and if you have the money to burn, fine, but if you're on a tight budget like me, that's a ridiculous price to pay, and AT BEST with modern age comics, you might think WOW, this old comic is worth $20 bucks, maybe as high as $60 when it's graded a 9.8 - I'm RICH!!! Take out at least $28 bucks from cleaning, pressing, and grading, and now it's only worth $30, which isn't THAT MUCH higher than the price of selling it raw, and that's ONLY if the book is in any kind of demand. Don't forget you have to sell it, and eBay takes 10% plus fees, then 2.9% goes to PayPal, AND you have to ship it out again to whoever buys it. So unless you KNOW your comic is going to sell for more than it costs to grade it, it's not even worth it basically. You SHOULD just sell it raw - but sell it honestly - and that's where most people go wrong. They just don't know how tough the grading is, or how much it cost to get something CGC'd.
So thank you for posting the video, there is SO MUCH MORE to learn about comics grading, and when I look on ebay, EVERYTHING is parading around as Very Fine+ or Near Mint and it hasn't actually been graded.
On the bright side, maybe you can get a sucker to buy your worthless comics, but the gains won't last long, your reputation will suffer, AND you'll end up paying for shipping AGAIN when you have to give their money back. So do the math - whenever I see a CGC label selling for less than $40, I just feel bad for whoever took the six months it took to have it graded.
I'm grateful for the help, because it's saving me and any unwary buyers some time and money. I think you're right in pointing out that most people simply don't know, and everyone WISHES that sharp corners and a clean front cover was the same thing as "near mint". Been loving your videos, keep up the good work, and thanks!
Thank you David for such an amazing post. And remember that even if your comics are not perfect, you probably paid cover price which means any key issues you have will still be desirable :). And yeah I talk about factoring in all costs when sending comics to any grading company and many kill me if I say anything that can be even presumed as negative towards CGC. That is a shame. Once you learn about grading, you will become more in touch with what seems worth grading and what you should keep raw. If you slab just to slab the PGX is the cheapest and may be something to look into. I have many other tip video which can help you learn more and more... Keep in mind also, that if you bought those comics back in the day because you loved them, then they are priceless to YOU even if they may not all have a monetary value. So enjoy what you have, learn all you can and I welcome you back to the amazing world of comics.... Just keep far away from all the variants ;) lol. Thanks again :)
Chris
This is why I don't bother getting books graded. I only collect certain characters or stories I like to read.
Nothing wrong with that :)
What you called an ink stain appears to be distributor spray. A comic with distributor spray can still get a 9.8.
It depends on who grades them. I have seen books get 9.6 grades. If they smear or drip below the top it can effect that grade. A lot of times it is ignored though so they can get 9.8 grades.
We Love Comics Correct. It depends on the severity of the overspray. It's my understanding that it can't get above a 9.8, so no 9.9s or 10.0s with distributor spray.
That is why we should always hope that whoever grades our books is having a really great day ;) lol.
So essentially 23 minutes to learn "don't judge a book by its cover" 😂......... But seriously, great info and pointers!
People who sub, know I can be long winded. But there are some who don't mind :). I appreciate your comment.
dude this is the best you tube video on inspecting comic books that i've seen, and i've been watching here and there then i break from it and it has now become a quiet often thing for me. dude thanks for informing all the collectors out there on what to look for and it has taken me a span of 5 years to find a video that actually informs collectors on what to look for. thank you and i subscribes today so hopefully because of my innflurncr you channell will bloe up
Awesome video and channel. Just got obsessively back into comic collecting after about a 20 year break. I find your channel informative and very helpful. Thanks.
Thank is great to hear Jeff, welcome back and welcome to my channel.
Thanks Chris just another example of how your videos are constantly educating me. I'm greatly appreciative man
It is my pleasure, I am glad I can help.
So u telling me that people actually do not take the comic out and inspect it!???!!?? Wow
I see that all the time.
I'm new to this, and that doesn't make no sense too me at all.
Haha, that is me.
As always, I feel humbled in your presence. :) I know I say this a lot, but I really do appreciate the information I get out of your videos. I've picked up a lot over the years, and know some of what to look for if I'm looking for gradable books, but you always teach me something new. I'm really glad guys like you are there to help out the rest of us collectors, and give us the tips that aren't always readily available. Have a great night, Chris!
You are very kind good sir, thank you so much for such a nice comment.
This is a great video. Most of what you were trying to show was blurry, but all of the points were spot on.
Luckily I have upgraded my camera since then so that problem should no longer be an issue :). Glad you stuck through it to watch this video. Thank you Alan for taking the time to comment, hope to hear from you more often :).
Thanks Chris. I love the videos. Like the old saying goes "You cant judge a book by its cover" . Please keep up the good work. It keeps me excited about collecting. Have a blessed week.....
I am glad to hear that my video has reignited a comic flame :). Thank you for such a positive comment.
Good advise. I will admit I am one that doesn’t always look at each page of the book!
trust me when I say, hardly anyone ever does.... The only person it hurts though in the long run is the present owner of the book :).
Yea i got excited because i found an incredible hulk annual 5 for 19 bucks and from the front it was clean af, like 7.5, and ofc had a post it note on it that said 'would have graded higher but some slight bends on back of spine and back'. Well the hulk is my fav character and the book looked so good and decent price so i just grabbed it and though, even at this price a little bending is fine. Well i started thinking about it later, couple days ago actually and took it out to inspect it, and the back cover is absolutely destroyed.
I really don't mess with graded books buying or selling unless its something like an autograph because thats like my guarantee for authenticity. So for me I'm mostly a collector and I sell books I no longer have a use for or space for. I use mylar not to get over on anyone with a sale but because Mylar is far more protective from a longevity standpoint and its more durable. Yes they do present the book better but your point is valid, sellers will do that to get over so youre doing great for letting the community know. I just want to be clear that just because someone sells a book thats in a mylar bag doesnt mean they are out to get over on anyone. And like you said, even the experienced make this mistake. We need to inspect our books thats the bottom line. Keep up the good work
Well said, great post :). Hope to hear from you more often.
I still don't get why people slide the book in to the sleeve bottom first you end up always touching and grabbing the top of the book leaving finger prints on the top usually where the title is. Me and my collecting club we have always slid the book top end first into the sleeve so that way the top of the book is never touched never handled. I'm still baffled most people don't do such a simple thing
Very informative video. That's why I always put a $50 "coupon" in the middle of the book for the CGC graders
Wow, Now I wish I graded your books ;) lol.
Once again.. Another Awesome Vid, Chris! I was just telling my buddy the other day that I see so many people that look at both sides of the wrap, the spine, and the corner's and they give the book a grade. I was like, "Don't people look inside the and check for issues inside the Book". Awesome Dude!
I have seen even people in this hobby for years do that. Old habits die hard I guess...
VERY informative video. You have shown a lot that I would've overlooked.I admit, I'm guilty of just judging the front cover AND I'VE PAID for it BY receiving a lower grade 😢! Before now, I didn't know of "folding" AND I wouldn't have thought of checking if page numbers are smeared. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
I am happy to have been able to show so many little details that can really lower the grade of a comic... Like the saying goes.... "Don't judge a book by its cover" ;)>. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts.
This is especially true at comic shows because once you leave there good luck getting a refund!
Or even finding them....
that's why you look at a book before you buy it from a dealer
If only more people actually did that :).
Great vid, I wish I had this information before. I got caught out there with a copy of ASM 316. The front and back cover were so pristine but the pages on the inside are a mid dark beige. Lesson learned though, Thanks for this vid!
Sadly, we have all had something like that happen to us so think of it as a right of passage... At least it wans't AF15 or something expensive like that to learn a lesson on :).
Thanks Chris! I enjoyed yourgenuine attitude & learned a lot!
That is great Harry, glad you are enjoying my content. Thank you for the kind words and I hope more of my videos continue to help you :).
Nice video Chris, I seen a video last week of a guy doing an unboxing and he kept getting 8.5's when he was expecting 9.2's and he kept zooming his camera in on the cover and edges. lol I'm gonna have to send him over to your channel.
That is how many people grade books, I have seen that done on hundreds of channels. When I used to do my online auctions here on my original channel, anyone that was selling a book had to take it out and show the ENTIRE book. Sadly, Ebay doesn't care what is being sold as long as they take their cut.
We Love Comics I have a question, that bacteria that's on the Moon Knight book, is it possible that it can also start building on your other books while they're in the box?
Not foxing. But mold can.
What else can you do other than proper storage to help against mold and what not? Anything?
Lot's of good information. Super informative and easy to understand. I learned a lot in 24 mins. Thank you!
Thank you, I'm glad it helped you. I really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment. Hopefully you'll check out other videos of mine
100% right Chris a comic is more than just a front cover. I've found out the hard way. I give the comic a good check all over before sending for grading.Really great and informative video.
At one point we all have :). But like they say "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, SHAME ON ME"... So when we learn from our mistakes we never have to make them again... :). Thank you for taking the time to share your positive thoughts on this topic :).
Another lesson for anyone planning to submit that i learned the hard way especially if you're also going to press them is take scans and pictures of the entire book prior to submitting. With pressing and submitting becoming so popular, places like CCS is becoming overwhelmed and mistakes are happening at higher rates. I have had a couple books come back damaged after submitting from pressing including an ASM 14 that came back with a detached cover on one staple that most definitely was not detached when I sent it in.
It just goes to show that when a business gets too much power, they abuse it... I am sorry to hear that happened. And what is really sad is that they will never claim responsibility and YOU are the one that gets punished....
Good thing I collect more for a good read or because of my interest in the character.
Nothing wrong with that at all.
Awesome video, very educational!!!! I’ve been collecting on and off my whole life. Always willing to learn something new. 😎😎😎
That is great to hear :). Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for watching. Hope you check out more of my content :).
Nice, informative channel you have here, just wondered this way yesterday and have already been hooked on several of your vids. Looking forward to discovering more. Thanks! From a UK comic lover.
That is awesome James, glad you found my channel and are enjoying my content. Feel free to comment any time and I hope my videos continue to entertain or inform you :). New video uploading as I write this.
+We Love Comics Thanks for the acknowledgement Chris.
Hello Chris,
Important information on this video.
I have to admit that many times I have gotten comics and not gone much beyond the front and back cover, inside covers and first page.
Certainly not enough.
I have certified comics and wondered why such a low grade when I thought it was great looking book.
I now have a much better understanding and will from now on go through the entire comic.
Thank you.
Herb
I think we all need to be reminded of the basics every now and then, as we are all guilty of doing this from time to time. If I can refresh someones memory and they closely examine a book, then it saves them from being unhappy later down the line.
So true.....many sellers don't show the back cover on eBay....Thanx for the refresher on grading.....
Always glad to help, I am happy I could remind you.
Hey Chris. My profession is a printing press operator. I worked for Decades in this job. A few things you had Wrong about things with the ink. 1 thing for example was the page numbers on the bottom of the page. This issue in this books case was a dirty Blanket on the Press. This was a Pressman error not a customers. The issue would be looked over by a grader because it happened during production.
Also Gripper marks at the edges of the tops or the bottoms of the books are also forgiven by the grader, because these imperfections are Unavoidable.
Thank you Raymond for all your professional input, it is appreciated.
Something I have noticed in A LOT of my books I’ve been buying lately is that on the bottom of the inside pages there will be small holes that go completely through the book. Not sure why honestly but I’ve seen it in multiple books from different companies and ages
Yeah, i have seen books like that. That has to be something that happens in printing. Not sure what causes it though.
We Love Comics since it happens in printing is there a penalty from grading companies? I have also wondered the same thing about mis-wraps?
It it spreads below where it is supposed to go it can cause a penalty in grade. I have seen comics with miswraps still grade at a 9.8 so they do not penalize as much for that.
Solid tips and pointers! I've started to spend more time on inspection during the buying and submission process. :-)
Thank you good sir. I have seen dozens and dozens of channels (Including my own at one point) fall into the cover checking trap. If I can help one person inspect a book more closely and it makes them catch a defect before sending it to get graded and they end up not sending it in, I am happy. I was pleasantly surprised at all the positive comments and thanks yous for the reminders... I am always happy to help when I can. Good to hear from you again and I hope you are well :).
Very good tips stop collecting like 20 years ago CGC wasn’t even around then. Just started collecting again last year so these tips help thank you
I stopped myself back in the mid 90's & did not come back until Oct of 2015. So I know what it is like to be out of the loop. I have many tip videos that may help you get back into the swing of things, hope you check some out. Thank you for taking the time to comment & welcome back :).
Amazing information! This is a video every collector should watch!
Why thank you, that was really nice of you to say. I hope you can share the link to anyone that you know me love Comics so it can help them as well :-). Hope you check out more of my videos and they are hopefully just as helpful to you
I absolutely loved this video, and as soon as I get this comment written I will be subscribing and 'ringing the bell'. I have a several step process when I grade books, starting with the cover. I look at the cover as a whole rather than as a front and back, looking at corners, stress creases, foxing, smudging, dust accumulation, staple brightness, and alignment of the fold. This will give me an initial grade, I then put the comic aside for anywhere from a few hours to several days and look at it again. Sometimes this second look will show me things I missed the first time. Then I open the book to the center and make sure the staples are tight, and make a note of the page color, I also get close to the book and take a deep smell of it. Sounds peculiar I know, but the nose can detect the odor of acidifying comics pages. Next I check to make sure all pages are complete and that any pencil or pen marks that may be in it are noted. I also look at the brightness of the interior ink. I then put the book away again. before I bag the comic (usually poly bagged if it's a key issue I may use a board fro the front as well as the back). I look at it one more time, only then and after reviewing my notes do I assign it a grade.
Sounds like you are one of the comic collectors who didn't actually need this video ;) LOL. But I am happy to hear you inspect your books before sending them out to be graded... 90% of the people I see "Grading" their books is looking at the front and back cover and then formulating a grade... And then they wonder why they did not get the grade they wanted when it comes back a 9.0 ;) lol. Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed comment< I always appreciate efforts like this. I hope you check out more of my content and feel free to comment any time.... Thank you again & welcome to my channel :).
Need some updates from you this is really solid man. Thanks ❤❤❤❤ comics.
You left out one of the most important points - do a page count! That's especially important with silver and golden age books. Doesn't matter how nice all of the present parts look if there's a page or wrap missing - there's a 0.5 grade or a qualified label coming your way.
Very good post, thank you for that. You are very right about that.
Also check for them value stamps
@@bathombre9739 if you mean the Marvel value stamps, its easy to see whether or not the issue you have on hand was printed with a stamp, and/ or had it removed. If the promo page has a piece missing, there is your evidence. Sometimes the previous owners of a comic also cut out the main-in forms on some ads, so that is something that has to be checked with every issue bought.
Unfortunately, when buying books at shows, the seller sometimes frowns upon you being so thorough with flipping through the pages or even taking it out of the mylar. The more expensive the book, the more they'll not want you flipping through it. It's unfortunate, but I know they are terrified of you dropping or possibly bending a page, tearing a cover, etc.
Very true but you can always ask them to take it out and show you. If they refuse to do even that, then you may be better off passing on their business and go elsewhere.
Great information video Chris. I always check my books every page when they come in. I have had the same issues buying online. You never know if the seller has even taken it out of the bag. I bought the overstreet guide to grading comics many years ago and use those guidelines to check my books.
I could honestly bet that 98% of the people who sell ungraded books never check the entire book. That is why you see so many auctions that show just the front cover. I am never afraid to take a chance though because of Ebays buyer protection program. But it still is frustrating that sellers do no understand about giving FULL DISCLOSURE when selling an item. It is all about integrity.
As always, highly educational and honest! Thanks. Was wondering what “Foxing” was thanks for the lesson.
Thanks mate. Another informative video and will endeavor to inspected my books more closely.
I am glad that my video helped you look at your comics a little closer, it will help you in the long run :). Thank you for sharing your positive comment.
Good advice, man! I always wondered how the missing digital codes were graded.
My pleasure, glad to help you learn something new :).
The crease on the inside looks like a factory caused crease. Those are typically overlooked. I used to have a 9.0 copy of X-Men 49 with a 3 inch factory crease on the white of the front cover. Pissed me off to no end because I didn't see it in the description and didn't know that its largely ignored over man made creases. Same thing with marvel chipping. It drives me nuts that CGC will give books high grades even with some chipping/pre-chipping. I say factor all those defects in and designate a "qualified category" for it.
Thank you Richard for sharing your point of view on the comic condition. I appreciate those who wish to share their personal knowledge.
Big fan of your videos. Always honest, genuine and informative advice.
Thank you, it is nice to know people appreciate the information i put out. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
VERY informative! I needed to watch this! :)
Awesome vid and great tips for someone like me who is fairly new to the comic collecting scene.👍👍
I am glad it helps and I welcome you to comic collecting. Hope to hear from you more often.
Thannk you for another great and informative video. I am about to send some books to be graded and this will help me make sure I send my best books to PGX using your discount code. Keep up the great content!
That is great to hear. I hope you get some really great grades. If you make a video, post the link on my channel for all to see :).
Great video, I am getting redy to send in some comics for grading, will give them a second go over be for making my final pick.
And if you discover some defects before sending you will be glad you found them before the grading company did :).
with a good clean and press this book I think could grab a good high grade
My comic book knowledge is growing... thank you ...
That is great to hear, hope you will check out more of my videos. They may help you as well.
Good info Chris. So many forget these points. Thanks for sharing!
You are very right about that. And hopefully this will help someone change that :).
couple of things, distro ink as far as I know doesn't lower grade unless there is major bleed through, foxing is I think fungus not bacteria
Remember Beavis and Butthead? Maybe you do. BUT, remember their comic book adaptation?
The month the first issue of THAT came out, Todd McFarlaine's Spider-Man #1 came out. I bought the Spider-Man, while a friend of mine bought THREE copies of the gruesome twosome's comic, thinking it would increase in value.
Which collector made the mistake there?
Well considering neither book is going to be topping any charts anytime soon, I would say it was a draw.
Brian Corvello )
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I have Beavis and Butt-head #1 Near Mint + it's worth $17.00 (lol)
@@TheEdwardCage "Huh... huh huh... huh huh... We RULE, Beavis!" :-)
Wow comic collecting seems like a chore if it needs to be kept this way. Checking every page for inks smudge is too extreme for me to maintain the highest grade.
Well like they say in life you get what you give, so if someone is not willing to put in the extra effort to make sure a comic is in good condition then they should not complain that when they grade it, the grade is lowered then expected... It DOES require work if you want things done right.
We Love Comics
What I am trying to say is, its way too extreme to flip every page to check for manufacture error, the one where you mention the ink smudge where we have no control of. If its a fold or a crease, then thats unacceptable. Also if we purchase a book online, I don't think the seller is willing to snap every picture of the book.
Oh I understand, but the purpose of this video was because I see all the time people who do unboxings of books they got graded and then complain that they did not get a 9.8 and then admit they never opened the book. So I was just trying to teach people to be careful because if you are getting a book graded and you want the best grade, you really should check to make sure it is what you think it is... Too many people just look at the front and back cover and make a prediction of a grade.
Thank you. I am an old collector, but now l am starting to trade and sale. Great video and it's a keeper 😊
@@stevegalusha1453 glad you watched and happy you appreciate My content. Hope you check out more :-). Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment
Really like the cover of that book. Great information!
Thank you, glad you checked this video out and took the time to share your thoughts.
I don’t think you can call anybody experienced if they don’t check all of this.
:), You are very kind :).
Excellent video. When first getting started I made that very mistake. 👍🏾👍🏾
Much better then continuously repeating that mistake :).
I had a copy of Marvel spotlight 28 cgc 9.8 which i sold about 8 years ago, should have kept it
Hindsight is always 20/20.... Hope you are able to find another one soon.
Hi my friend 😀.. Great video and great advice. I go through my books with a magnifyin glass. At my age my eyes are not that great.lol. question . when you buy a book at your LCS. Do you check it out there or do you wait until you get home. And if you check it out there and find Something wrong with it do you ask if they can lower the price. Just curious... So that's what Moon Knight looks like. Lol. I think he should get a little sun he looks kind of pale.😀.. Thanks for sharing this video.✌️ my friend and have a great evening.😀Hi Moon Knight Madness. HeHe HaHa..😉
I always check out any key book I buy before I buy it, In fact there was a wall book I wanted (Can't remember what it was) and I said I would only buy it if the staples were in tact. They said they "Believed" they were. Well I had them open it up and take it out and wouldn't you know it, the top staple was detached... If I would have waited until I got home they could say that maybe I did it....
Thanks for the video , I collect comics , but I am not very expert , I will continue watching your video to learn 👍
Just remember we all start out as beginners and learn through experience. You will be the expert one day someone comes to for advice :). Till then learn all you can from all you can :).
Is it true that with signatures on comic books even if they have a certificate of authenticity doesn’t matter when they’re sent in to be graded? Like it’ll still get labeled as “defaced” or something along those lines?
Only if you send them to CGC. PGX & CBCS have signature verification where you can pay to have them verify the signature.
@@WeLoveComics Would you recommend I send them in to verify the signature? Do you know/remember the prices for them to verify? Thanks again!
great video plenty of good advice and I for one will be more diligent from now on many thanks, all the best!.
That is great to hear Paul, trust me when I say you will benefit from your extra efforts :). Thank you for the positive feedback.
great video, very informative, but can I suggest another video with better quality images of the water stains, fold lines etc? your camera was pretty blurry most of the time you zoomed in. great info though, keep it up!
I thank you for the honest feedback. Since this video I bought some professional lighting and the videos are much better now. Had to get used to changing all the settings to fit with this new camera.. Hopefully you will see a difference in my newer content :).
We Love Comics alright! sounds good!
Great video. I bought a high grade x-men collection eBay and when I received it I got the bad surprise. Foxing on all of them but very hard to notice even with the photos that were provided. I did'nt pay as much as I thought they were worth. I got them 2 weeks ago from the mail. IS it too late to return them ? I would feel bad reselling them to another person. I would mention the slight foxing to them. This really sucks. If anyone has an opinion please send a comment. Thanks !
On Ebay you have 30 days to return something and 6 months from Paypal so you are good. If they didn't mention all that foxing, you are definitely entitled to your money back. Good thing you checked :).
@@WeLoveComics So even if the seller said no returns, that counts for nothing? Thanks
does not matter if they did not mention things that are important.
Or simply just by a graded book. Then you wont have to deal with any of these dilemmas
I've been watching some unboxing videos and you are so right. If they got lower grades than what they thought it should be the first they did was look at the cover and say"how can this be a 8.?
That is exactly why I made this video. If this video only helps one person look at their comics more carefully then I am happy to have helped them :).
Thanks for tips now i wont make the same mistakes again. Oh and thanks for bringing back your channel.👍👍👍
You are welcome. Glad you are still watching :).
I been collecting comics for years started in the 1970s on in off. Trust me when I tell you this video IS a very educational. Keep up the great work. And regarding the thumbs. In live, there will always be hater. You just got yourself a thumbs, a shared and a new subscriber. ✌😎✌
Thank you very much, your message was very kind. I welcome you and thank you for being my subscriber :).
This is kind of why I would rather order already graded books, if I want any of them at all.
What ever works best for you is always the way to go. Keep in mind though that you will be spending a lot more money that way.
Just buy to enjoy. Not for investment
@@michaeldy3157 remember there is no wrong way....
On grading, it gets knocked down even if it is a printing issue? When you showed the page number 23 with the bleeding, wouldn’t that be an issue with all the books that ran through at that printing?
Thanks and very informative.. Not buying from eBay anymore unless it's graded.
Never be afraid to buy from Ebay, just remember to check your books. And if they are not what they claimed to be then return them. Ebays buyer protection program will hep you.
Daryl Hidrosollo. EBay is a great place to get books and you can find some great deals. However, don't always think the seller's grade is what it is. I like the auctions that have several very clear pics.
TL;DR: Never judge a book by its cover.
Sadly, in comics, that is what most do.
We Love Comics lol
This Guy is a Comic Guy I would trust in Buying From, Thanks and Thumbs Up!
Thank you, that was very nice of you to say :)
Hi Chris, thanks for another informative video. I don't know if it only happens to me but when you zoom in the image is blurry, I remember you mentioning that you had a new camera, is it the new camera? I am currently going through my comic book collection, some of them were in storage for about 10-12 years and I noticed that I was being careful with the bag and boards to try and keep them as perfect as possible but some of them I should have been more careful, I will be sending some of them for grading. Thank you for the tips, always helpful
Yeah it is the new camera. Sadly all the money I spent did not give me what I was hoping for. It is disappointing....
Check to see what the minimum focusing distance is on the lens/camera. You may be moving in too close for it to focus.
Only a 6.5?! I thought at least a 8.0 wow, but I'm really only experienced grading low grade books. like 1.8s and such. Great vid
I am no professional either so I could be wrong. But it definitely would not be as high as people thought if they based a grade solely on the front cover :).
Hmm, some of the flaws you point out are due to the printing process, and I am not sure, but I don't think the grading companies mark down for those. I mean, look at all the misaligned covers that still get a 9.8.
That may be so but things like what I showed on the back get missed all the time when people are "Grading" their books. Hopefully this helps people inspect more then the front cover and spine.
Awesome information. So would you recommend not using the digital codes? I like to read the books but don’t want to read my physical copy so I will use the digital code. I typically peel back the code enough to see and fold back. I don’t remove it and I don’t do that to my more valuable books. What are your thoughts? Thanks for your time!
If you like to read but also like to speculate, get a reader copy or a digital copy to read, then get a higher grade copy for investment. Win win :).
Cool, I usually only get the digital codes off the books that are the main covers. I don’t handle variants very much at all. Thanks for the response!!
Always a pleasure :)
That's why I always asked to see more pictures.
Michael Levtchenko That's what I try to do.
Sadly not all will comply. There is usually a reason for that though and is a red flag right away.
So how do you get rid of the bacteria?
thanks for the video,,i have a lot of comics but there all ungraded but not sure on where to go to get them graded also have rare ones i wouldnt want to send by mail,,,have a look at my videos of my boxes but they are in ok condition for the year
The best I can recommend is learn as much as y ou can about the 3 grading companies (CGC CBCS & PGX) before you send in anything... The more you learn the better choice you will make. Also people will have totally different experiences from the same companies so sometimes trying all 3 is the best way to go.
thanks for the tip,,have been in touch with cgc but will look into the other ones
The more you learn, the more you will realize that all 3 can benefit you based on your needs. No one company is going to be the best for ALL your needs so learn what you can.
The sruff you mention is due to the printing press. We have no control of
Not all the time but mostly it can be from the printers.
We Love Comics I barely started to read comics. I had no idea of the value degrading. Thank you for this amazing video. I found digital is kind of the way to go, but I am not a fan. With digital you have nothing to show proof you read it
Thanks for the tips Chris. Are you able to change your camera settings for auto focus? When you move the book for close up it’s blurry. Maybe a different angle of your lighting would correct it. Just an idea. Thanks again and keep up the good work man.
It doesn't seem like this camera has that option. I will keep looking.
Good tips and glad to see you back!
Thank you. Only been 2 days since I have made a video so it hasn't been too long :). Nice to be missed though ;).
We Love Comics oh I seen your older video(s) wayy back in the day....then you left ,then recently you started putting new stuff out again welcome back!
I was thinking of buying a GL #87 . Just started my collection. They have it on the wall at my local shop. Should I ask to see it before a buy it ? It's $ 150 and I figured it be a good investment before they introduce John Stewart in the DCEU .
Absolutely ask. You always want to be sure there are no hidden surprises that make you disappointed in your purchase... Off then $125 and see what they say :). Never be afraid to bargain.
We Love Comics Ill do that . Thanks for the advice. Cus if it looks good and I get a good deal, I might be able save enough to get the GCS # 1 lol. This is important to me too in a weird way lol . John Stewart GL is one of my fav characters so I want it to work out . On another note . I saw a Superman's pal Jimmy olsen # 136 in a stack of Jimmy Olsen comics. The one where he looks like hulk. Do you think Supermans pal comics are worth collecting ? I saw it looking for # 134 .
Me personally I wouldn't buy it but if YOU like it then you should get it.
I got some books in from a store online (I don't want to mention the name) but man I feel like the grades were off. I didn't want to bitch because I want to purchase from them again and my books were under $10 apiece. Luckily some of the cheaper book that were graded lower were better than I expected. Have you ever purchased from an online store and had to call them out?
Oh yeah, that happens all the time. like I say in this video even comic shops are guilty of this. There is no way that they could ever inspect every single comic they have. I am sure they don't hardly ever do it at all... So they can totally misgrade a book the same way a regular collector can.
I'll keep buying from those people who sell their comics out on the street, flea market, Save a comic from the land fills, that whole Grading thing gives the idea that people will make $500-dollars off of old comics, Never thought Comics were saving Bonds just grows with interest easy money
That is a great way to find comics for cheap. Except for the landfill part ;) lol.
You would be in Shock Surprise, If you went to a Junk yard Land fill and found Boxes of Comics (some not damage by rain) still in plastic bags, Family members of Comic Collectors don't want to waste time trying to sell the comics, throwing out with the rest of his stuff when they pass away, Jack-pot for some,
I still think I would pass on that one. But hey, if that truly works, I can guarantee you would have very little opposition :).
I think grading professionally is just a way to more easily put a correct value on a back issue.
I've never graded a comic, but I am interested in it. I really enjoyed your video too it was informative and educated me more on what to look for before getting a comic graded. How did you get into grading comics? What steps should I take to get a comic graded?
What I would HIGHLY recommend, is learning all you can about grading. It takes time and effort. Once you do that, you can find it much easier :).
@@WeLoveComics Thanks for the reply. How did you get into grading comics? Any sources you recommend to learn more about grading? Thanks for the info brotha 👍
Just watched some comic videos, learned about it then got hooked. The more you research, the better you can find what is best for you :). Happy hunting :). I have a video in my tips playlist that gives my honest opinions about all 3 major companies, so hope you check that out. That is a start.
I have a comics collection dating from the 1970s. Thousands put in bags and boards. Assumed to be in excellent condition when purchased. A checklist on what to search for would be helpful, but reviewing your video occasionally should be very helpful when I inspect notable issue in my collection. I imagine a good inspection of a book is important because sending it out could be more expensive than a comic is worth, right?
You are totally right about that. The more you check your comics, the less chance of sending a book to get graded and getting disappointed about the grade received.....
My comic collector IQ just went up by 10,000
:). Even if it went up 1, it is still 1 better then the moment before :).
How much does grading/slabbing cost? Do the companies tell you the values?
Each site has different prices depending on the comic and how fast you want it back. Of the 3 companies, PGX is the cheapest, fastest & easiest. But if you go to all 3 companies they give a full detail of prices....
Does pgx press and clean comics and add a cover if you send it to them so they can slab it all together so the comic looks nice
What do you mean by add a cover? If you mean if you have a coverless comic and you want to send a facsimile cover will they put it in the slab? Yes they would if you requested them too. But they will put a notation that it is not the original cover. And yes they do in house pressings and dry cleanings.... If you send any of your books to get graded by PGX, I have a discount code in the description that will save you 10% off the total price.
Sweet man you answered my question perfect I knew you would know
Do you think Strange Tales, #107 is a or will possibly become a pivotal issue?
How much is feasible to buy a CGC in 6.0-8.0 condition?
THANKS
It could be, time till tell. I would recommend going on ebay and seeing what prices people were paying for that book in the grades you are looking for and try to get the lowest of the range as possible.
That seems like a random choice. What's so special about that issue? Just curious.
Awesome video. We need more honest people in the comic community.